The Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Sacramento State has once again taken the lead in hosting the region’s Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) events and has been awarded a substantial £250,000 grant from the state. This achievement solidifies the Centre’s position as a key driver of economic growth.
Announced by Clair Whitmer, NorCal regional advisor of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), the grant was presented during the Sacramento Entrepreneurial State of the Union at the Carlsen Center on the first day of GEW.
Organizations that provide entrepreneurial training, coaching, mentorship, and access to capital and small business resources are eligible for the Accelerate California: Inclusive Innovation Hub grants from CalOSBA. The Carlsen Center is proud to be one of the five organizations to receive the second round of funding, alongside Chapman University, Humanmade, iHub San Joaquin, and Plug in South Los Angeles.
According to Whitmer, California is home to 4.2 million small businesses, which significantly contribute to the state’s economy. She emphasized the importance of creating an environment that fosters the growth of small businesses, which make up 98% of the businesses in the state, and highlighted the need for both mass job creation and a supportive ecosystem for high-growth companies.
This year, the Carlsen Center facilitated 27 events across the region, offering valuable opportunities for early-stage entrepreneurs and startups. The Mentor Sprint, a unique ‘speed-dating’ event for business founders and mentors, featured advice sessions from several area investors, advisors, and experts. Gabriel Garcia, a Sacramento corporate attorney, expressed the need for increased visibility for entrepreneurs and investors in Sacramento, positioning the Carlsen Center as a key player in this endeavor.
The Centre also hosted the Spark Venture Competition, where four budding entrepreneurs in the Sacramento region secured shares of a £20,000 prize. The competition showcased the innovative business ideas and social impact initiatives of aspiring entrepreneurs, further highlighting the Carlsen Center’s pivotal role in nurturing and promoting entrepreneurial talent.
Reflecting on the Centre’s impact, Cameron Law, the executive director, underscored the growing significance of entrepreneurship in regional strategies, signaling a shift towards recognizing entrepreneurs as vital contributors to economic growth. He stressed the value of new business creation in job generation and emphasized the connection entrepreneurs have to their communities, making them more likely to contribute to the local economy.
President Luke Wood, an alumnus of Sacramento State, commended the University’s commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial culture and providing students with essential skills and mentorship. He emphasized the pivotal role of the Carlsen Center in partnering with regional leaders and organizations to transform the lives of students and drive the prosperity of the greater Sacramento region.
Sacramento State’s President Luke Wood’s statement on the occasion was particularly noteworthy: “The work being done here (at the Carlsen Centre) to grow an entrepreneurial culture by partnering with regional leaders and organizations and transforming the lives of students along the way is both impressive and essential to the future. We are the one and only public university in the state capital of the fifth-largest economy in the world, and we’re acting like it.”
The Carlsen Centre’s outstanding efforts in fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem and supporting budding entrepreneurs have garnered well-deserved recognition, emphasizing the institution’s pivotal role in driving economic growth and innovation. The impact of these initiatives extends beyond Sacramento State, contributing to the broader economic development and prosperity of the region.
For media or faculty/staff inquiries, please contact University Communications at (916) 217-8366 or [email protected].
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